Clip supporting means for enclosures



June 18 1940. J. KAcENA ET AL CLIP SUPPORTING MEANS FOR ENCLOSURES Filed Sept. 19,y 1938 Patented June 18, 1940 CLIP SUPPORTING MEANS FOR ENCLOSURES John Kacena, Chicago, and Paul W. Vandenberg, Elmhurst, Ill., assignors to Crane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation o f Illinois Application september 19,1938, serial No. 230,576

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a clip member for use in connection with radiator or convector covers or cabinets or the like.

An objectionable condition often develops in 5 the front panel of a convector cover or cabinet in which, due to the usual unsupported span of surface particularly in the larger size covers, the panel sags, bulges or becomes otherwise distorted from its original shape. Another condition frequently present is that of objectionable vibrations of the front unsupported wall of the cabinet Which Will cause the panel to vibrate and chatter or cause resonant rumbling sounds to be emitted from the enclosure.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple and eifective means of bracing the front panel of a radiator or convector enclosure in order to reduce or eliminate the tendency of the panel to distort, bulge or sag.

More specifically, it is a further object of this invention to provide -a clip type of brace member for a panel of an enclosure so as to eliminate the said chattering or rumbling sounds which otherwise are produced by the vibratory movements of the panel.

Another important object of this invention is.

also to provide a means for rigidly securing and supporting the panel of an enclosure or Acabinet in fixed spaced relation to a convector, radiator or the like.

Other objects and the attendant advantages Will become more readily apparent from the detailed description which follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters indicate like parts.

Fig. l is ya front fragmentary partly sectional View of a convector and enclosure showing the location of the clip type of braces.

Fig. 2 is a sectional end View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exterior perspective View of the clip brace member.

Referring to Fig. l, the convector I, which may take a variety of forms and which is shown in its described form merely as an example, comprises a plurality of nat-sided tubes 2 having transverse laterally extending projections or ns 3.` The convector I may be supported adjacent a wall or within a niche by any suitable means (not shown) such as that shown and described.' in United States Letters Patent No. 2,119,256. The enclosure or cover 4 may be a cabinet resting on the floor and surrounding the convector or radiator, or else it may be merely a panel suitably attached to the wall adjacent each end of the convector. It is customary to form the Trent portion 5 ofthe enclosure 4 of a single pice of sheet material, preferably although not necessarily of metal, and attach it to the end portions or legs 6 which form a part of the enclosure 4. Referring to Fig. 2, the panel 5 has attached to it a plurality of clips or braces 'I constituting our invention and which are adjustably secured to the panel 5 by the stove bolts 8 extending through the circular apertures 9 of. the panel 10 and the rectangular apertures II of the clips 1. Referring now to Fig. 3, the clip 'I may be formed from a single piece of suitably formed sheet material, preferably metal, to have its laterally projecting' end portion I2 suiliciently wide to 15 lit preferably snugly between the radiator or convector tubes 2 (as shown in Fig. 2) and its central portion I3 is made suiiiciently long to extend to the inner surface of the panel 5 (as shown in Fig. 2), and the angularly bent portion i4 `is n made suiciently long to contain the aperture II which permits horizontal adjustment of the positioning of the clip 1. Horizontal adjustment of the clips 'I isv desirable as it permits installation of the clips with the end portions I2 extending g5 between adjacent ribs 3 after the convector I and the enclosure 4 have been assembled, and it also permits symmetrical placement ofthe apertures 9 in the panel 5.

While We have shown our invention in con- 30 nection with a convector for which it is particularly adaptable, our invention may also be used in other types of convectors, radiators and the like with but slight modiiication which will suggest itself to an ordinary mechanic skilled in 35 the art.

What We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a radiator, convector o-r the like, an enclosure for the said radiator or 40 convector, clip means attached to a wall'of the said enclosure, the said clip means comprising an angularly-formed strap member snugly fitting within said radiator or convector, said strap member having an integral angularly disposed 45 extension to hold 'the said convector or radiator in xed spaced apart relation to the said wall of the said enclosure, whereby the said enclosure wall is supportedagainst transverse movement in either direction. 50

2. In combination with a radiator or convector, an enclosure for the said radiator or convector having a substantially vertically disposed front,v cover, adjustably mounted clip means upon the said front cover, the said clip means being trans- 55 verseiy movable upon the said cover and also of said extended portions having a portion in with relation to the said radiator or convector to transverse angular relation to the latter of said maintain the said enclosure in fixed spaced relaextended portions to t snugly between sections tion to the said radiator or conveetor, the said of said radiator or convector.

clip means having extended end portions in sub- JOI-IN KACENA.

stantially 90 angular relation to each other, one PAUL W. VANDENBERG. 

